Method for metal coating wire and the like



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.E. L. WATRQUS METHOD FOR METAL COATING WIRE AND THE} LIKE Original Filed Sent. 20, 1919 1 .llll

(Ill! .lillllll r m E WW W Z Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES res-arse PATENT caries.

EDWARD L. WA'IBOUS, DECEASED, LATE OF EL PASCI, TEXAS, BY AGNES B. WATROUS,

EXECUTRIX, F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

METHOD FOR METAL COATING WIRE AND THE LIKE.

Original application filed September 20, 1919, Serial No. 325,255. Divided and this application filed June.

The present invention relates to metal coating of objects, such as wire and wire like metal material, barbed wire, wire fabric, chain, woven wire fencing, and the like,

and it is to be understood that the term.

to prevent their adhering when the coating congeals; to space the convolutions of the wire or the like while winding the same for holding the same in spaced. and separated condition during the coating operation; to insert or interpose spacers, preferably in the form of rods, between the convolutions as the material is Wound so as to provide for the spaces mentioned; to cast off the excess coating metal, preferably by centrifugal action, while the coatingmetal is still in 11101- ten condition and while the material is being held in spaced relation; to wind the material on an open work frame for providmg for ready access of the coating metal. to the material and the ready passage of the excess metal during-the casting-0d operation; and such other and further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully ap pear and are inherently possessed by. the invention. l

In the drawings illustrating a preferred means for carrying out the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an open work frame or reel upon which thematerial may,

be wound; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view'showing a part of wound material, and Fig. 4 is a side view of a means-for causing centrifugal action together with a part sectional view of means for catching the cast ofi' metal.

The invention contemplates the use of a suitable reel or the like upon which lengthy materials,-such as wire, chain, woven wire fencing and the like may be wound or wrapped,

after Which the reel with the Serial No. 647,006.

wound material may be immersed in a bath of molten metal or spelter or other suitable and desirable material, the reel and contents then being removed from the bath and placed upon a rotatable spindle of a centrifugal machine to operate with suficient speed to .cast off or hurl, by centrifugal force, excess molten metal while thesame is still in molten'condition for the purpose of leaving a smooth uniform coatin upon the wire or the like. The cast 0 metal may be caught by a shield preferably surrounding the centrifugal machine. After the centrifugal machine is brought to a stop the wire or similar material may be unwound from'the reel and bundled for shipment as desired.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, .one 'form of device for carrying out the invention, is shown as com rising a reel having four corner angle are 1 spaced from each other to form an' open barrel of square cross-section. Theseangle bars extend the full length of the drum or barrel and have secured thereto at their re spective ends, as clearly shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings, pairs of parallel spaced apart angle bars 2 and 3 which have in turn secured to them at right angles thereto pairs of parallel spaced apart angle bars 4 and 5 respectively, they being so connected as to provide outwardly projecting arms at each end of the reel whereby the wound material maybe confined between the arms at the respective ends of the drum or barrel of the reel.

Within the open drum may be enclosed a metal sheathing 6 which ma be suitably secured within theangles of tlie angle irons 1 and of utility to prevent the entry of spelter within the interior'of the drum and comin into contact with the spindle of the .centri ugal machine whereby-it may become ars 4, 5, 2, andfi nected together by any suitable means such as by riveting or by spot welding or the like.

The object of these bars 7 is to give the 'drum or barrel a substantially octagonal cross-section thus relieving the wire or like material of kinks.

Where the material to be wound would have the strands closely lying near to each other whereby the spelter would not have as free access to the inner strands or convolutions, and the casting-off of the surplus spelter when subjecting the material to centrifugal action would be more diflicult a spacing means may be provided to hold the convolutions in spaced relation when being wound and treated. For this purpose the reel is provided with a plurality of slotted "plates 20 and 21 circumferentially spaced and secured at the inner ends thereof, as by rivets, spot welding or the llke, at the intersection of the an le-bars'2 and 4 and the .1: coils or convolutions of the wire are being wound upon the reel. Preferably, the wire is laid on with one or two layers so that there is substantially no contact between the adjacent portions of the wire and then a set of rods 24 may be inserted and placed so that the successive layers may pass over them. The procedure may continue in the same manner until the reel is filled or the material completely wound thereon. The end of the wire may be secured in any desirable manner to the reel to prevent its unwinding.

With the material properly wound on the reel, the reel together with the material is then immersed in a suitable bath of molten metal or spelter and permitted to remain there until the wire is thoroughly heated and the spelter has had a chance to flow in all around the wire. The reel and coated wire is then rapidly transferred from the spelter bath and placed upon a spindle 25 of a centrifugal machine. The spindle 25 is preferably of the same cross-sectional form as the interior of the sheathing 6 of the reel. The spindle is fast to a shaft 26 suitably driven by gears 27 and 28, driven from a shaft 29 carryin power pulley 30, capable of being driven y a belt or a like means. Around the spindle 25 is preferably provided a shield 31 capable of receiving the cast off metal. During the centrifugal action of the machine the excess or superfluous 'spelter will be cast off from the wire and caught by the shield 31 and the c ating on the wire will remain smooth and uniform.

While I have herein described and shown upon the drawings one form of means for carrying out the invention it is understood that the invention is susceptible of being carried out by other means and also of being modified and changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, I claim 1. The method of coating metal wire comprising applying a coating of molten metal to the wire and then subjecting said wire to the action of centrifugal force before the coating metal congeals, said steps being carried out while convolutions of the w're are positively maintained out of contact with other convolutions by means of interposed spacers, so that superfluous coating metal may be freely cast off and adherence of the convolutions prevented when the coating congeals.

The method of coating metal wire comprlsmg immersing a reel of wire in a bath of molten coating metal and permitting it to remain therein until the wire is thoroughly heated and the coating metal has flowed in and around the same, and then subjecting the wire to centrifugal action to cast off surplus coating metal before said metal congeals, said steps being carried out while portions of the convolutions of the wire are positively maintained out of contact with contiguous portions of other convolutions, so that adherence of said convolutions will be prevented when the coating thereof congeals. I

In witness whereof. I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

AGNES B. WATROUS. Emecutrim of the Will of Edward L. lVatmus. Deceased. 

